Your yearly physical shouldn?t be a battle with your physician over your behaviors.
“A doctor can be your best counselor if you give her or him the opportunity to do so,” said Dr. Martin Wasserman, executive director of the Maryland State Medical Society. “Go into [the exam] with the expectation that today is the first day of the rest of your life.” A physical exam is a great time to review your healthy and unhealthy habits. Update your physician on your health since you last visited, including out-of-town hospitalizations or illnesses he or she might not be aware of, Wasserman said.
During an exam, a physician should test your body systems and organs such as the heart, lungs and gastrointestinal track, and your ear, nose, throat and eyes. Patients should also share a list of their over-the-counter medications and pharmaceuticals. To learn how often you should receive a physical exam, visit nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/9745.htm.
